2013 Sept Korea - 10 days South Korea Trip - day 2 (Seoul / Jeju Island)

I thought I can finish blogging about my Korea trip within 2 days (Sat and Sun). But I was totally wrong !!!! I didn't know I will need to take sure a long time to blog about a day thing (didn't count in the editing of the picture and everything - so there are some picture that I didn't even edit at all ). I really can't blog 2 post in a day, but I'll try to finish blogging about my Korea trip within this week !! Sorry, pls bear with me !!  

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Day 2 - 14 Sept 2013

Jeju Island - (Hotel)Good stay December hotel / Teddy bear museum / Ripely believer or not museum  

Woke up early to get ready. After we done with checking out, the front desk didn't even offer to help us to book a cab when its even raining outside. 

It was easy to find the counter for Eastar Airline, we went to do check in first (with that large bags, so inconvenience to walk around). The counter was able to speck easy English, with that checking in was fast. 

We still have some time before boarding, we went to have breakfast. Because don't feel like having rice for breakfast, so we had burger.

Lotteria is Korea fast food joint. We bought couple set - for 11,900 KRW - which include beef burger, shrimp burger, fried, cheese stick and cokes. (They don't have breakfast set, early in the morning people are already drinking coke.) The staff can't really understand English, so we didn't bother to ask if we can change the drink anot.

After breakfast, we headed in to departure hall, thinking we could see / shop a bit, but we were so wrong, there were nothing but a 7-11. So we just walked to boarding area and wait .

Flight was delay for 10 min, reason given was due to airport connection (don't know what reason was that). The flight was like budget airline - picture beside. The space was just nice for me, but if people who has longer legs, they might feel uncomfortable.

I can say that this was my most scary flight ever. The first 5 min after take off, it was going up and down, totally like roller coaster ! But once it's in the air, it's stable again



Because it was just an hours flight (from Seoul, Gimpo Airport to Jeju Island international Airport), they only serve drink on flight. There were a lot of baby on-board and they just cried non-stop. Was nothing much we can see and do, so we just sat back and nap for a while (since we woke up so early this morning to catch this flight)

To make the flight more interesting, flight assistant was playing scissor paper stone with passenger. Standing in front, those who want to play, just rise up your hand. If you win, keep the hand in the air, if you lose, bring your hand down. The final person standing win a small gift (because really understand what they are saying, can't join in)

It was raining when we landed. Maybe because it was domestic flight, it doesn't link to terminal but we have to take a shutter bus into terminal. It was surprising to me that there was no custom & we could just proceed to collect our bag. We had to cab to our hotel, and it seem like all cab uncle don't really like tourist, all having the super scary and unfriendly look. I don't know what to do if we don't have the Korean address on hand    

At least there was one uncle that had no scary feeling was the front desk uncle of our hotel - Good stay December Hotel. He was smiling all the way, from the moment we step in till we head up to our room

(Hotel)Good stay December hotel - 

Add : 260-58, Yeon-dong,690-812 , Jeju-do, South Korea

 

 

The moment I step into the room, I could only felt that it was so comfy that I thought that I was in my own room! Actually there was not many thing in the room, only a bed, TV and fridge. We rested for a while before we headed out to Terry bear museum. We had to find ways to go there, but I only have information how to go there from the airport via the airport limousine No. 600. We gave up in the end, and just cab back to airport to take the airport limousine.

After half an hours of finding (of the bus stop), we finally board the bus. The ride was around an hours plus.   It stopped right outside of Ripley believe it or not museum. Actually we wanted to go to Yeomiji Botanical garden, but we can't find it so we just headed to our next target - Ripley's believe it or not museum first

Jeju-do - Jungmun Resort

A few attraction are location at this area, for example like tha Teddy bear museum, Ripley believe it or not museum, chocolate museum and Yeomiji Botanical garden are all location in the Jungmun Resort

Add : Saekdal-dong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-si
          제주 서귀포시 색달동
How to go :  Take the airport limousine bus 600 to Jumgmun resort and alight at bus stop in front of Yeomiji Botanical garden.
(There are many more attraction there, you can read up more in below website - http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264178 )

Ripley's Believe IT or Not ! Museum [믿거나 말거나 박물관]

Entrance Fee is 8,000 KRW.  I didn't took any picture of inside as the things are really too odd to me. (I only have picture of the building ) but the things show inside is really not bad. If you have the time, you can drop by and check it out 

 

They have official website, you can read up more if you like to go - www.ripleysjeju.com 

Teddy bear museum [ 제주 테디베어뮤지엄 ] 

Entrance Fee is 6,000 KRW. The place is not very big, you could finish everything in less than an hours (if you don't need to take alot of picture). We didn't asked for English brochure, but we still could understand as there are English next to the teddy bears    

[I can't give you more details , so below is taken from Korean Tourist website - http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=313294  ]

Teddy bear Museum boasting quite an impressive variety that have been loved for more than a hundred years the world over. Inside the 2 galleries you can view the terry bears from various countries. You can also enjoy yourself at the museum shop, cafe, restaurant or the outdoor park where you can view the spectacular Jungmun Sea. The gallery is grouped into 3 sections: the History Hall, the Art Hall and the Project Exhibition Hall. In the History Hall, you can witness the 100-year history of terry bears including famous scenes, popular teddy bears of different eras, and antique teddy bears.

Teddy Bears in Hong Kong 

Teddy bear from different ERAs 

Teddy bear having Korean Tradition wedding 

from the K-drama ~ Gong

By the time we finish these 2 museum, we were very very tired, so we took the airport limousine bus back to our hotel (It don't stop outside our hotel, is 2 street away. At least we can don't need to cab back from the airport ! hehe.) 

We were too tired and lazy to find a place for food, so we just bought some instant food from the 7-11 and finish it in our room. We need to sleep early and have enough energy for next day   

2013 Sept Korea - 10 days South Korea Trip - Day 1 (Seoul)

Finally I have the chance to blog !! Was so busy for the past few days, that I didn't had the chance to even on my computer to check my own personal mail ! haha, will start blogging about the trip now.

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Day 1 - 13 Sept (Friday)

Had to wake up early to catch flight (as the flight is 8am). Thank god, my friend, TC's parent gave me a ride to the airport.

SQ's checking in was pretty fast, We still have a lot of time to do some shopping. The flight was around 6 hours, so we decide not to have breakfast but just have on flight meal. Was pretty happy with the flight, although it was a small plane ( seating was 2-3-2 ), old but consist comfortable, and no baby crying.

 

on flight menu 

I didn't know that they would give out menu for us to choose. In the past, SQ will only mention what is the onflight meal when they are giving out the food.

Was disappointed with the Soya Vermicelli with shrimp, the vermicelli was so cold that there were even ice inside. And the Beef bulgogi's side was little salty. But the others was great.

 

the meal that I picked 

Korea was an hour ahead of Singapore, so we reached Incheon Airport around 3 plus. We went to buy T-Money (something like Singapore's ezlink card) before we headed to take the AREX  (Airport Railway Express) to Gimpo Airport, to cab to our hotel - Boom Tourist Hotel as there was no public transport going there.    

 

It was pretty easy to find AREX, just have to followed the sign Airport Railroad (English sign) and you won't go wrong. We could use T-Money to pay, therefore we don't need to buy any ticket. 

Rided to Gimpo Airport was less than an hours (thank god we didn't choose to go straight to Jeju but stayed a night in Seoul first)

Right from the beginning already know that, it will be better if you have Korean address if you want to take cab. But when facing the cab uncle, I'm really glad I listened to that advise, or else we will never be able to go to our hotel.   

Seoul - (Hotel) Boom Tourist Hotel

(I'm not giving the address as I don't really think is suitable girls to stay there, people tend to stare. But if you are interested, you can find this hotel in the agoda website )

It take less than 5 min by cab from Gimpo Airport to Boom Tourist hotel. The front entrance of the hotel was super small, if is not because of the cab driver stop outside of the hotel, we might never be able to find it.  

Front desk was only able to speak Chinese (even when I tried to speak in English to her). She just looked at the booking and passed us the key. It was a good thing there were lift since we have sure a big bag. When we reach our floor, we were shocked. there was vending machines selling sex toys !! We came to a concluded that this was a love motel instead of hotel.

We tried to ignore all these and just headed into the room to rest. The room looks clean and big, but we noticed there were another small vending machine selling sex toys and even free condom !!

We changed to something more relaxing (short pants) and headed out for dinner. The moment we step out, it was so cooling !! Weather that we never have the chance to tried in Singapore. Was thinking of heading out to hongdae however we were too tired and tomorrow we have to catch morning flight to Jeju Island. We just have dinner at some random shop.

Even though was a just a random shop, there were a lot of people eating at here. We had udon, pork cutlet and tteokbokki. Walked back and get ready for tomorrow flight to Jeju Island   

Our first dinner in Korea 

Disappointed

Currently I'm still in Korea. Actually I only planned to blog after I'm back in Singapore, but I'm really pissed with my accompany and if I don't get it out of me soon, I think I will go crazy !!!!!!!!

I don't care if is that she didn't realize it or acting that is non of her business. She is f***ing pissing me offfffffff. Only think of herself, never think of others. If she is not my old friend, I would have already scold her off !

This will be the first and the last time I'm going on vacation with her. Is really disappointed , this kind  of thing happen with a close friend. After this trip, I can no longer say we are close friend. She will just be a friend. A friend that even if we never contract again, I wouldn't be sad at all. Sad that thing will become like that, but I really can't stand her anymore. (She even have the face to ask me to go Taiwan with her in Feb!! She must be out of her mind!!!!!)

I will blog my Korea trip once I'm back in Singapore 

D7 - don't feeling well

Good Morning

First time blogging early in the morning, hehe
With 7 day left to my trip, I was angry with myself. I felt sick when I didn't fall sick at all for the past 9 Month! Only felt sick when I going on vacation, I should have take care of my own body more and last night I had insomnia...

Yesterday, I wasn't feeling very well. Having headaches for the whole afternoon, the pain was taking over me that, I have to take some painkiller or else I can't go on with my work. Slept throughout the whole bus journey back home, by the time i reach home, I don't sleepy any more (still feeling not that well but not sleepy at all). I laid there, hoping to get some sleep, but after 2 hrs, I gave up.

I sat up and done some of my itinerary. Read abit, write abit, reseach abit.. very fast is already almost time for me to get ready to go to work. Thought I would be super tired at work today but I don't feel as sleeply as always, but my body is afraid of cold and that is not a good sign ...   

2013 Korea - D10 KTX

Finally only left with 10 days !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know is bad, but wasn't able pay attention at work at all !! I keep staring at the calendar, thinking why 13 Sept still not here yet.

With the booking of the KTX* train from Busan to Seoul, all booking are fully done for this trip !!!!!!

Many TripAdvisor review about KTX are comfortable and good, so I must try it out this time. Booked Economy class ticket, because the about 2.5hrs train ride from Busan to Seoul, and with our large luggage, it will be better if we get a seated tix.

*For some of you out there that don't know about KTX
Korea Train eXpress (KTX) is South Korea's high-speed railsystem, operated by Korail. Construction began on the high-speed line from Seoul to Busan in 1992. KTX services were launched on April 1, 2004.
(For more details, you can read more on there - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korea_Train_Express)

Why don't they understand ?

I had the most horrible night last night.

For the first time I know what my parent really think about me travelling. They just don’t understand why I want to go to the same place for vacation when I’ll planning to study there and early next year ?

I planned this trip few months even before I thought of going there and study. The airline tixs that I bought for the trips are the cheapest, that are not able to amend the date / changes the dates (is not like the price will be cheaper! Of course I will not do that). Why can they just let me do what I want ?

No matter how many time I explain to them, they just refuse to get it into their head. They rather keep to what they believe assuring that I’m just wasting money. Hello, even if I’m wasting money, I’m wasting my own money!! Why do you want to control what I do? I’m already an adult !!! Stop telling what should I do, what should I not do. Why still think of controlling me ?

Sometime I really feel like just letting everything go and don’t come back …
I really need this vacation badly , or else I might really do it …

2013 Korea - D11 Currency

I went to Raffle place, < The Arcade > to change money (SGD to KWR). My colleague all said that the currency rates there are always the higher than the normal shopping center money charger. But because they close at 6pm, I have to go during lunch time.

I read this website below before I head down to there
- http://www.thebestsingapore.com/best-place/money-changers-at-the-arcade-at-raffles-place/
It mainly is saying that the -

• They offer good rates for various currencies.
• The exchange rates are displayed on electronic board, so no need to bargain there. [I like this point so much!! I am super weak on bargaining !!]
• Good services are provided by most of the changers who have good communication skills to deal with foreign customers.   
• Website recommends on some of  the money changer you should change at
• The best rates that they have there are mainly -
• USD
• GBP
•  JPY
• THB
• MYR
• TWD
• Give you the full address of the place and how to do there

I was shocked when I reached there -

1. The most money charger shop (at the same area) I even seen. There were 3 money charger on the 1st level and at least 7 more money charger on 2nd level.
2. The crowd was scary !! There are people queuing to change and people walking around compere the price (but the price are all around the same)
3. The rate is so low now !! My girlfriend went Korea in June, she change around 880, but now the highest rate I could find is 856..

Hope the rate will go back up soon (before I leave!)

STGCC - Sept 2013

This year STGCC* is held at Marine Bay Sand.

I'm not really a hardcore anime fan but because I do watch anime and big manga fan, I don't mind going. 

I always think that anime, cospaly are not very popular in Singapore, but I was wrong, complete wrong !!! There were so many people !!!! People in cosplay, people buying toys, people listening to the talks, people queuing up for autographs, People are trying out new games. 

Although there were a lot of people, but I was still able to see a lot of thing. 

I'm happy that I went [-u-] !   

http://www.singaporetgcc.com/home

*For those we don't know what is STGCC. 

 Singapore Toy, Game & Comic Convention (STGCC) is a event showcasing the heartbeat of what's new and cool in the gateway to Southeast Asia, It brings together the best from the worlds of toys, games, comics, anime, manga and collectibles. There are many artists, creators, designers amd exhibitors for you to see and buy